Safer Groceries Landmark Food Law Being Enforced

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) has reached a settlement agreement (Tinyurl.com/FoodSettlementAgreement) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that sets firm deadlines for the agency to fully enact the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act. A federal court will maintain supervision to ensure FDA compliance.

CFS senior attorney George Kimbrell, who led the case, says, “The first major update to our food safety laws since 1938 must now be implemented in a closed ended, timely fashion. That means safer food for American families.”

Congress passed the law to combat the epidemic of foodborne illnesses affecting one in six Americans annually. After repeated delays, the FDA must now comply with the following court overseen schedule to implement the final rules: preventative controls for human and animal food (8/30/2015); imported food and foreign suppliers (10/31/2015); produce safety (10/31/2015); food transportation (3/31/2016); and intentional adulteration of food (5/31/2016).